After three years of debate over whether to replace or renovate the Government Center, and then over how much of it to renovate, the discussion over the fate of architect Paul Rudolph's landmark creation has come down to a relatively fine-grained analysis of two renovation options that lawmakers hope to conclude less than three weeks after the plans were made public.

After three years of debate over whether to replace or renovate the Government Center, and then over how much of it to renovate, the discussion over the fate of architect Paul Rudolph's landmark creation has come down to a relatively fine-grained analysis of two renovation options that lawmakers hope to conclude less than three weeks after the plans were made public.

Two Orange County Legislature committee are scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday and choose between plans priced at $63 million and $67 million that keep much of the existing structure intact but completely gut and replace the interior, build additions and a grand entrance and transform the parking lot and grounds. The winning plan will go before the full Legislature for approval Thursday.

Consultants told lawmakers last week that the more expensive option would give the county more planning flexibility because more of its space would be new.

But from the standpoint of preservationists who fought County Executive Ed Diana's plans to demolish the Government Center, the downside is that it would tear down an entire section of the 43-year-old complex and obscure much of the rest with new construction on two sides.

One revelation about both plans caused consternation at Wednesday's session: the decision to omit the Department of Motor Vehicles office that accounted for much of the Government Center's visitors before the complex was closed more than two years ago.

Both county Legislator Chris Eachus, D-New Windsor, and Goshen Mayor Kyle Roddey objected to closing the motor-vehicles site — once one of four such offices in the county, with others in the cities of Middletown, Newburgh and Port Jervis — and cited the foot traffic Goshen would lose.

"It makes much more sense to keep the DMV in a centralized location," Roddey said.

Tenee Casaccio, managing principal of JMZ Architects, replied that with more drivers conducting their vehicle transactions online, the number of customers visiting DMV offices is diminishing anyway.

Government Center employees have been scattered to other county offices since Diana closed the complex more than two years ago.

Both design plans anticipate returning all departments previously housed there except Probation and the DMV, and add eight agencies from other locations.

Chris McKenna

Somewhere out there, maybe sitting on someone's dresser or in a kitchen drawer if it hasn't been thrown out, is a lottery ticket purchased at Star Wines and Liquors on Route 17M in Monroe almost a year ago. A forgotten ticket that is worth $1 million, but only until Jan. 5.

The state Division of the Lottery sent out an alert last week to inform the "lucky winner" that the one-year deadline is looming to claim the prize for the Powerball drawing that took place Jan. 5, 2013.

The winning numbers were 26-30-49-51-54 Powerball 25.

Anyone who unearths the $1 million ticket is urged to sign the back and immediately call lottery officials at 518-388-0563. The winner can collect the loot at any of six customer service centers statewide, including one at Hudson Valley Towne Center, 18 Westage Business Center, Fishkill.

Chris McKenna

You think your coquito's the best? Now you've got a chance to prove it.

The first-ever Hudson Valley qualifier for the New York City-based Coquito Masters contest will be 6 p.m., Friday at Coquito Restaurant, 31 Forester Ave., Warwick.

The coquito is an eggnog-like Puerto Rican drink, made with rum, egg yolk, coconut, milk and spices, and traditionally served around Christmas. The Coquito Masters contest is expanding this year, not only to the Hudson Valley but to Massachusetts and Connecticut, too.

You need to register by Tuesday. Call Ruben Estrada at 537-1307 or email restrada3@hvc.rr.com for more information.

Nathan Brown

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